“Follow me—I’m Nurse Amy. Your partner is waiting in the examination room.”
My partner.I liked hearing that more than I expected. But no, Haisley isn’t mine. We’re just two adults trying to find a way to raise a baby without being together. I hate it, but what can I do? I have to respect her wishes.
As Amy opens another door, I spot Haisley. She turns to see me and smiles. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“You ready for this?” Haisley asks, slipping her hand into mine, easing the tension in my shoulders.
“Not really,” I admit. “But I’m here. And I’m not missing any more appointments.”
She squeezes my hand, her smile softening. “I’m so glad you are, Ras.”
Taking a deep breath, I focus on her. On us. Whatever happens in the next few minutes, I’m not alone.
Another person in scrubs walks in, both cheerful and calm at once, immediately putting me at ease. “Hi there, Dad. We haven’t met yet, but I’m your sonographer, Holly. Ready to see the little one?”
“Yes,” I barely get out.
Haisley lays back on the exam table, her movements slow and careful as she pulls her neon yellow top up to uncover her stomach. It’s still pretty flat, and I can’t help but feel a little impatient. I long for that bump to be there to see more of the baby growing inside her.
She giggles as Holly squirts the gel onto her stomach. I tighten my hand in hers, trying to make her feel better, even though I might be the one who needs the comfort right now. My palms are sweating so freaking much.
Haisley’s here. I’m here. We’re in this together. That’s what I keep telling myself. And then, without warning, the most incredible sound fills the room, and everything else stops.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
My nerves fade into the background as I realize what the sound is—our baby’s heartbeat. The only thing that truly matters right now. It’s steady and strong, and so remarkable.
I glance at Haisley, and she’s looking at me with her eyes full of wonder. There’s also softness in her that I’ve never seen before. It’s a mix of joy and disbelief. I don’t know who’s more overwhelmed, me or her. But my chest still tightens, and the tears fall down my cheeks. I don’t care that society tells us men don’t cry. That’s bullshit, because that heartbeat is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard in my life.
My eyes are too blurry to focus on the screen, so I swipe at them with my sleeve. The moment the image of our baby is seen more clearly, I cry some more.
Taking a shaky breath, I whisper, “Thank you for this gift,” before pressing a lingering kiss to Haisley’s forehead.
Her gaze softens as she tenderly touches my cheek, her thumb brushing away another tear. Her lips curve into a gentle smile, and there’s so much happiness in her eyes that it takes my breath away. She leans into me, her forehead resting against mine, and in that pocket of time, it’s truly just us. Nothing else matters except this little heartbeat, the sound of our futures woven together.
“Now that you’ve heard the heartbeat, let’s check the rest of the baby,” Holly says in the background.
“I didn’t think I could feel all this,” I admit, my voice rough with emotion. “I didn’t know I could love someone so much without meeting them first.”
Haisley smiles through her tears as she whispers back, “I know, Ras. I know.”
It’s the second time she has used my nickname, and I love it.
“I’ll spend every day showing you and that baby how much they mean to me,” I promise, my words quiet but filled with promises.
“They’re lucky to have a dad like you.”
“And a mom like you.”
“Look, it’s snowing!” Haisley calls out as we leave the doctor’s office twenty minutes later, her mesmerizing eyes lighting up as the first few flakes drift down from the sky.
“I remember how much you love the snow,” I tease, watching her excitement.
She turns, giving me a knowing smile, the kind that makes my heart skip a beat. “You’re totally saying that to get brownie points.”
“I don’t need to play games with you,” I comment, tugging my scarf around my neck. “So, what do you wanna do now?”
